Asturias, Gijón

...beach and walk to the Asturias, which we did. The parking bit was rather hairy as the spaces are quite tight, but it was only 5 minutes walk away and cost around 24 euros for the two nights. If you don't plan to venture further afield during your stay, I would advise you to go without a car as everything in Gijon is easily accessible from the Hotel Asturias either on foot or by public transport.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this ...
...to stay in this lovely unspoilt Spanish city. Asturias is also well worth exploring and, as yet, is realtively unknown to visitors from the UK. Mountain scenery and plenty of outdoor activities plus beautiful beaches ideal for families. Go now before everyone else does! Easyjet flies daily, and cheaply, from Stansted, then Gijon is no more than half an hour from the airport.

Hotel wesite: www.hotelasturiasgijon.com (please note this ... more

We spent two nights here last August during our second holiday in Asturias ("we" being my husband and myself and our 3 children then aged 5,11 and 12) and had a fantastic time. The idea was to see a bit of Gijon before heading into the hills for a week's self-catering in a former shepherd's home now converted and with all mod-cons. In fact it was the owner of the cottage-rental company we used who suggested this hotel.

As it turned out we wished we had spent longer in Gijon as it is a super city with plenty to see and do. The hotel Asturias makes a great base as it is an easy stroll to the beaches, marina, headland, old fishing quarter, aquarium, museums and shops. Set in the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) we had wondered about noise at night from neighbouring bars but I can honestly say it was not a problem - and our rooms had balconies overlookig the plaza.

The hotel is a traditional 3* with 85 bedrooms arranged over four floors (don't worry there is a lift). The rooms all have private facilities and some are specially adapted for disabled guests. We found our rooms to be simply yet comfortably furnished and extremely clean. The one thing that was a little annoying was a lack of mirror in the bedroom, only one in the bathroom. We had rooms in the old part of the building overlooking the Plaza all of which had a balcony. The other rooms in this part look out to the side over the main San Lorenzo beach. The more modern extension to the hotel, to the rear, houses the remaining rooms which have views to either the sea or another small square. If your rooms look into the Plaza Mayor and you are staying on a Friday or Saturday, as we were, you may get to see a local wedding taking place at the Town Hall - even my husband, who is not normally a fan of weddings, found this fascinating!

We felt that the hotel is the sort of place generations of families have been coming back to year after year and where well-to-do elderly ladies, who are known to all the staff, holiday on their own. It is a place you feel instantly relaxed and "on holiday" in!

Breakfast is a self-service buffet taken in the"cafeteria". On offer are various breads and pastries, cereals, yoghurts, warm milk, fruit juices and coffee - but no tea (my poor husband suffered withdrawal symptoms!). Our children were fascinated by the revolving toasting machine - one way to get them to eat a decent breakfast!! A set-price "menu of the day" is available at lunchtime which is served in the restaurant. In the evening both fixed price and a la carte menus are offered, again in the restaurant. Although these menus were extremely tempting, we chose to dine in one of the many local eateries, largely because the hotel dinner wasn't served until 9p.m. and our 5 year was flagging! (Dinner is, to us, served late in Spain: they set the tables at 8 but don't expect you to sit at them until at least 8:30!)

All the staff at the Hotel Asturias were friendly and very patient with our disjointed Spanish! Take note: English is not widely spoken in this region of Spain so it's a good idea to take some lessons before you go and have a phrasebook as a backup!

The hotel does not have its own car park but there is a lay-by just to one side to pull into for unloading and loading . We were advised to park in the underground car park next to the main beach and walk to the Asturias, which we did. The parking bit was rather hairy as the spaces are quite tight, but it was only 5 minutes walk away and cost around 24 euros for the two nights. If you don't plan to venture further afield during your stay, I would advise you to go without a car as everything in Gijon is easily accessible from the Hotel Asturias either on foot or by public transport.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this Hotel to anyone looking for a comfortable and traditional place to stay in this lovely unspoilt Spanish city. Asturias is also well worth exploring and, as yet, is realtively unknown to visitors from the UK. Mountain scenery and plenty of outdoor activities plus beautiful beaches ideal for families. Go now before everyone else does! Easyjet flies daily, and cheaply, from Stansted, then Gijon is no more than half an hour from the airport.

Hotel wesite: www.hotelasturiasgijon.com (please note this brings up the site in Spanish, for an English version, go via a google search and click on "translate this page".)
Gijon Tourist information: www.gijon.info/index 

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